texascavers Digest 25 Dec 2010 12:33:25 -0000 Issue 1215
Topics (messages 16764 through 16777):
Re: San Saba County/CO2/radon
16764 by: caverarch.aol.com
16766 by: Susie Giles
16767 by: Mark Minton
16768 by: Bill Bentley
16772 by: George Veni
Re: CO2 and radon
16765 by: Diana Tomchick
New Bat Species
16769 by: Mark Minton
Fatal cave accident in S�tano de Ahuihuitzcapa, M�xico
16770 by: Antonio AA
16776 by: Antonio AA
San Saba Radon/CO2
16771 by: rafal kedzierski
Nature Conservancy, Hays County, WVWA partner to protect Jacobâs Well :
16773 by: Jerry
More news from analysis of the finger bone from Denisova Cave
16774 by: Diana Tomchick
Devils River State Park update
16775 by: A. Wertheim
Re: James Cameron Movie "Sanctum"
16777 by: Gill Edigar
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--- Begin Message ---
I'm interested in seeing a cross-section of the
sequence--including ground water conditions) above the granite (also
known to have radiation levels above EPA MCLs).
Gill's prompts me to ask: anybody know where in hell the uranium and radon in
Houston's water comes from? We aren't exactly known for our igneous (or any
other) rock exposures.
Roger again.
-----Original Message-----
From: Gill Edigar <[email protected]>
To: Aimee Beveridge <[email protected]>
Cc: Cavers Texas <[email protected]>
Sent: Wed, Dec 22, 2010 1:48 pm
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] San Saba County/CO2/radon
OK. But I'm interested in seeing a cross-section of the
sequence--including ground water conditions) above the granite (also
known to have radiation levels above EPA MCLs). That granite is pretty
hot, as I understand it, and decomposition of it could be producing a
lot of CO2 & radon. I don't think there would be much geothermal
influence left in the pluton but don't really know that and is one of
the questions I'm looking for somebody to answer. Also, was that area
not part of the Llano Uplift? If not, it is very near it. The caves of
that area have always had a CO2 content higher than other Texas caves
and which would seem to me to be unjustified by the decay of organic
surface material--especially since some caves don't take run off but
still have a lot of CO2.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I live in San Saba Co and you might be interested in the Annual Drinking
Water Quality Reports for the Richland SUD (Special Utility District) which
is required public info. The Radium levels are high but my understanding
(which could be wrong) is that there is no state or federal guidelines for
levels of Combined Radium or Gross Beta emitters for water supplies. The
reported source of Contaminant is "Erosion of Natural Deposits" and "Decay
of natural and Man-made deposits" respectively. We have been assured by a
chemist that Clark works with that the RO water softener we have installed
at our home takes care of these risks and that the risk is in the steam from
heated water. Doesn't seem like that would affect cavers? Not many geysers
around here -= just old geezers.
Respectfully and Happy Holidays,
Susie Giles
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Gill
Edigar
Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2010 1:48 PM
To: Aimee Beveridge
Cc: Cavers Texas
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] San Saba County/CO2/radon
OK. But I'm interested in seeing a cross-section of the
sequence--including ground water conditions) above the granite (also
known to have radiation levels above EPA MCLs). That granite is pretty
hot, as I understand it, and decomposition of it could be producing a
lot of CO2 & radon. I don't think there would be much geothermal
influence left in the pluton but don't really know that and is one of
the questions I'm looking for somebody to answer. Also, was that area
not part of the Llano Uplift? If not, it is very near it. The caves of
that area have always had a CO2 content higher than other Texas caves
and which would seem to me to be unjustified by the decay of organic
surface material--especially since some caves don't take run off but
still have a lot of CO2.
--Ediger
On Wed, Dec 22, 2010 at 1:25 PM, Aimee Beveridge <[email protected]> wrote:
> Gill,
>
> I'd bet that San Saba caves could could have slightly higher radon than
> background, especially if they are connected to groundwater enriched in
> radon and have little air turnover. Radon gas is denser than air.
>
> You'd need long term exposure for it to be a health risk. Living in a
poorly
> ventilated house with a water well producing from igneous, metamorphic or
> coal or hcarb-bearing strata would be of much greater concern naturally.
>
> Most of Texas (including San Saba), has very low radon gas compared to
many
> other parts of the country. Risk increases over the Llano Uplift and El
> Paso area. See map.
>
> http://www.city-data.com/radon-zones/Texas/Texas.html
>
> The ash layers (bentonite beds) in our local Austin Chalk are somewhat
> radioative. Recent studies of groundwater from Houston have shown
elevated
> levels (above EPA MCLs) of uranium and radium. Tangentially, no level of
> radioativity is really safe but avoiding cigarretts, air travel and x-ray
> machines is helpful.
>
> Aimee
> ________________________________
> From: Gill Edigar <[email protected]>
> To: Cavers Texas <[email protected]>
> Sent: Tue, December 21, 2010 5:18:05 PM
> Subject: [Texascavers] San Saba County/CO2/radon
>
> For a long time after I first visited caves in San Saba County in the
> 1960s I assumed that the source of the high levels of CO2 were due to
> decomposition of organic materials that originated on the surface. At
> some point (years ago) after radon became a hot topic I started
> associating radon with CO2 out gassing and more recently wondering if
> any radon studies have been done at CBSP. So I asked my caver friend
> and geologist Steve Hall of Virginia about those relationships. He is
> a radon specialist. He said that the source of out gassing CO2 is
> often igneous rocks which are also a radon source. I started to wonder
> what the rock sequence was in the Gorman Falls area. How thick is the
> limestone/dolomite? What formations lay between the top layer and the
> granite below? Could that be a source for the CO2? Should cavers there
> take any special precautions regarding radon? I tried the internet
> without getting much satisfaction so am wondering if anybody has
> information on any of that handy. It would make an interesting
> discussion.
> --Ediger
>
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--- Begin Message ---
Decomposition of granite would not produce any significant
amount of CO2 on its own. Granite is mostly silica and alumina and
contains very little carbonate. Maybe the heat from radioactivity in
granite could bake CO2 out of overlying limestone, though.
Mark Minton
At 02:48 PM 12/22/2010, Gill Edigar wrote:
OK. But I'm interested in seeing a cross-section of the
sequence--including ground water conditions) above the granite (also
known to have radiation levels above EPA MCLs). That granite is pretty
hot, as I understand it, and decomposition of it could be producing a
lot of CO2 & radon. I don't think there would be much geothermal
influence left in the pluton but don't really know that and is one of
the questions I'm looking for somebody to answer. Also, was that area
not part of the Llano Uplift? If not, it is very near it. The caves of
that area have always had a CO2 content higher than other Texas caves
and which would seem to me to be unjustified by the decay of organic
surface material--especially since some caves don't take run off but
still have a lot of CO2.
--Ediger
On Wed, Dec 22, 2010 at 1:25 PM, Aimee Beveridge <[email protected]> wrote:
> Gill,
>
> I'd bet that San Saba caves could could have slightly higher radon than
> background, especially if they are connected to groundwater enriched in
> radon and have little air turnover. Radon gas is denser than air.
>
> You'd need long term exposure for it to be a health risk. Living
in a poorly
> ventilated house with a water well producing from igneous, metamorphic or
> coal or hcarb-bearing strata would be of much greater concern naturally.
>
> Most of Texas (including San Saba), has very low radon gas compared to many
> other parts of the country. Risk increases over the Llano Uplift and El
> Paso area. See map.
>
> http://www.city-data.com/radon-zones/Texas/Texas.html
>
> The ash layers (bentonite beds) in our local Austin Chalk are somewhat
> radioative. Recent studies of groundwater from Houston have shown elevated
> levels (above EPA MCLs) of uranium and radium. Tangentially, no level of
> radioativity is really safe but avoiding cigarretts, air travel and x-ray
> machines is helpful.
>
> Aimee
> ________________________________
> From: Gill Edigar <[email protected]>
> To: Cavers Texas <[email protected]>
> Sent: Tue, December 21, 2010 5:18:05 PM
> Subject: [Texascavers] San Saba County/CO2/radon
>
> For a long time after I first visited caves in San Saba County in the
> 1960s I assumed that the source of the high levels of CO2 were due to
> decomposition of organic materials that originated on the surface. At
> some point (years ago) after radon became a hot topic I started
> associating radon with CO2 out gassing and more recently wondering if
> any radon studies have been done at CBSP. So I asked my caver friend
> and geologist Steve Hall of Virginia about those relationships. He is
> a radon specialist. He said that the source of out gassing CO2 is
> often igneous rocks which are also a radon source. I started to wonder
> what the rock sequence was in the Gorman Falls area. How thick is the
> limestone/dolomite? What formations lay between the top layer and the
> granite below? Could that be a source for the CO2? Should cavers there
> take any special precautions regarding radon? I tried the internet
> without getting much satisfaction so am wondering if anybody has
> information on any of that handy. It would make an interesting
> discussion.
> --Ediger
Please reply to [email protected]
Permanent email address is [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Well at least all we have here is hexavalent chromium in our groundwater....
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/10/earlyshow/main5076625.shtml
:(
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Minton" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2010 5:00 PM
Subject: [Texascavers] Re: San Saba County/CO2/radon
Decomposition of granite would not produce any significant amount
of CO2 on its own. Granite is mostly silica and alumina and contains very
little carbonate. Maybe the heat from radioactivity in granite could bake
CO2 out of overlying limestone, though.
Mark Minton
At 02:48 PM 12/22/2010, Gill Edigar wrote:
OK. But I'm interested in seeing a cross-section of the
sequence--including ground water conditions) above the granite (also
known to have radiation levels above EPA MCLs). That granite is pretty
hot, as I understand it, and decomposition of it could be producing a
lot of CO2 & radon. I don't think there would be much geothermal
influence left in the pluton but don't really know that and is one of
the questions I'm looking for somebody to answer. Also, was that area
not part of the Llano Uplift? If not, it is very near it. The caves of
that area have always had a CO2 content higher than other Texas caves
and which would seem to me to be unjustified by the decay of organic
surface material--especially since some caves don't take run off but
still have a lot of CO2.
--Ediger
On Wed, Dec 22, 2010 at 1:25 PM, Aimee Beveridge <[email protected]> wrote:
> Gill,
>
> I'd bet that San Saba caves could could have slightly higher radon than
> background, especially if they are connected to groundwater enriched in
> radon and have little air turnover. Radon gas is denser than air.
>
> You'd need long term exposure for it to be a health risk. Living
in a poorly
> ventilated house with a water well producing from igneous, metamorphic
> or
> coal or hcarb-bearing strata would be of much greater concern
> naturally.
>
> Most of Texas (including San Saba), has very low radon gas compared to
> many
> other parts of the country. Risk increases over the Llano Uplift and
> El
> Paso area. See map.
>
> http://www.city-data.com/radon-zones/Texas/Texas.html
>
> The ash layers (bentonite beds) in our local Austin Chalk are somewhat
> radioative. Recent studies of groundwater from Houston have shown
> elevated
> levels (above EPA MCLs) of uranium and radium. Tangentially, no level
> of
> radioativity is really safe but avoiding cigarretts, air travel and
> x-ray
> machines is helpful.
>
> Aimee
> ________________________________
> From: Gill Edigar <[email protected]>
> To: Cavers Texas <[email protected]>
> Sent: Tue, December 21, 2010 5:18:05 PM
> Subject: [Texascavers] San Saba County/CO2/radon
>
> For a long time after I first visited caves in San Saba County in the
> 1960s I assumed that the source of the high levels of CO2 were due to
> decomposition of organic materials that originated on the surface. At
> some point (years ago) after radon became a hot topic I started
> associating radon with CO2 out gassing and more recently wondering if
> any radon studies have been done at CBSP. So I asked my caver friend
> and geologist Steve Hall of Virginia about those relationships. He is
> a radon specialist. He said that the source of out gassing CO2 is
> often igneous rocks which are also a radon source. I started to wonder
> what the rock sequence was in the Gorman Falls area. How thick is the
> limestone/dolomite? What formations lay between the top layer and the
> granite below? Could that be a source for the CO2? Should cavers there
> take any special precautions regarding radon? I tried the internet
> without getting much satisfaction so am wondering if anybody has
> information on any of that handy. It would make an interesting
> discussion.
> --Ediger
Please reply to [email protected]
Permanent email address is [email protected]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected]
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
As far as minerals go, uranium is relatively soluble and is not uncommon in
trace (non-hazardous) amounts in some groundwaters, and accumulates to
hazardous or potentially hazardous levels under certain conditions.
The link between radon and CO2 in caves is currently tenuous at best; they
both accumulate where there is less air circulation, but it is not yet
certain they have a similar origin. A lot of work remains to be done on both
topics. CO2 can be from deep sources, decomposition of organic material,
poor air circulation, and other factors. I've observed that caves in the
Austin Chalk (think of Robber Baron Cave) and Ellenberger Limestone (think
of Colorado Bend) have the highest CO2 in the state, and both are
oil-producing units where they are buried deep underground. That suggests to
me that they contain higher levels of organic carbon which is possibly being
released as the limestone is dissolved in the outcrops and shallow
subsurface where we know caves occur. Then again, there could be some other
reason and I may be completely wrong. What is needed is a set of analyses of
the carbon isotopes in the CO2 in various high CO2 caves of central Texas.
Those results will eliminate some possible sources and will likely point
strongly to other sources.
Someone pointed out earlier that the underlying granite in the Colorado Bend
area is an unlikely source of CO2. I agree. For Gill and others interested
in the hydrogeology of the area, download
http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/publications/reports/GroundWaterReports/GWReport
s/R346/R346.pdf (this is about a 10 Mb file) and look at Figures 4-7 which
are geologic cross sections of the area. For other reports on Texas
hydrogeology, check out
http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/publications/reports/GroundWaterReports/GWReport
s/GWreports.asp. Don't be too disappointed if you see little or no
karst-specific information on the reports on Texas' karst aquifers.
Historically, karst has not been considered much although it has been
getting more and long overdue attention in the past 10 years.
George
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2010 13:52
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] San Saba County/CO2/radon
I'm interested in seeing a cross-section of the
sequence--including ground water conditions) above the granite (also
known to have radiation levels above EPA MCLs).
Gill's prompts me to ask: anybody know where in hell the uranium and radon
in Houston's water comes from? We aren't exactly known for our igneous (or
any other) rock exposures.
Roger again.
-----Original Message-----
From: Gill Edigar <[email protected]>
To: Aimee Beveridge <[email protected]>
Cc: Cavers Texas <[email protected]>
Sent: Wed, Dec 22, 2010 1:48 pm
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] San Saba County/CO2/radon
OK. But I'm interested in seeing a cross-section of the
sequence--including ground water conditions) above the granite (also
known to have radiation levels above EPA MCLs). That granite is pretty
hot, as I understand it, and decomposition of it could be producing a
lot of CO2 & radon. I don't think there would be much geothermal
influence left in the pluton but don't really know that and is one of
the questions I'm looking for somebody to answer. Also, was that area
not part of the Llano Uplift? If not, it is very near it. The caves of
that area have always had a CO2 content higher than other Texas caves
and which would seem to me to be unjustified by the decay of organic
surface material--especially since some caves don't take run off but
still have a lot of CO2.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
>
> I don't know where you get your statistics on lung cancer, but they're off
> base and misleading. According to the World Health Organization
> (http://www.who.int/tobacco/research/cancer/en/):
>
> "Lung cancer - the big one"
> As noted at the outset, the paper describing the association between tobacco
> use and lung cancer stands as a classic in public health. On average, smokers
> increase their risk of lung cancer between 5 and 10-fold and in developed
> countries, smoking is responsible for upwards of 80% of all lung cancers.
> Using American data, 24% of men who smoke can expect to developing cancer
> during their expected life time.
>
> Lung cancer remains a disease with a dismal prognosis. Although one-year
> all-stage survival is reported to have increased from 32% in 1973 to 41% in
> 1994, five-year survival has remained unchanged at 14%. Early detection has
> been promoted as a potentially valuable intervention but its
> cost-effectiveness puts it beyond the reach of all but the most wealthy
> health care systems, and even then, pales in comparison to the
> cost-effectiveness of comprehensive programs and policies to reduce tobacco
> consumption.
> ----------
>
> The 24% statistic quoted above is for all cancers (and there are many more
> than just lung) associated with tobacco use. According to the National Cancer
> Institute (statistics for 2005-2007), the lifetime risk (percent) of lung
> cancer for all races and both sexes for all people (smokers and non-smokers)
> is 6.95%. For perspective, the rate for all types of cancers is about 41%.
> (BTW, as you get past the age of about 50, your roughly twice as likely to
> die of cancer or heart disease than you are to die of Alzheimer's disease).
> See
> http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2007/results_single/sect_01_table.14_2pgs.pdf
> for more details.
>
I can't help but follow-up on these statistics with some back-of-the-envelope
calculations.
If we assume that smoking increases your lung cancer lifetime risk five-fold
over non-smokers, and roughly 20% of Americans smoked in 2007 (see
http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20081113/smoking-rate-is-declining-in-us),
then the lung cancer lifetime risk is:
Non-smokers = 3.9%
Smokers = 19.3%
If we assume that instead smoking increases your lung cancer lifetime risk
ten-fold over non-smokers, then the lung cancer lifetime risk is:
Non-smokers = 2.5%
Smokers = 25%
So the 24% quoted on the WHO page is actually probably just for lung cancer
(since the overall lifetime risk of all cancers is about 41% for the whole
population), and the rate for non-smokers is clearly higher than 1%.
According to the EPA (http://www.epa.gov/radon/healthrisks.html), radon is
indeed the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, being responsible
for about 21,000 deaths per year. By contrast, second-hand smoke, which so many
more people worry about, is estimated to cause only 3,000 deaths per year among
non-smokers. Second-hand smoke is of more concern to people with asthma and
chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, though.
The synergistic effects of smoking and radon exposure have been noted and can
also increase a person's lung cancer lifetime risk.
Diana
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Associate Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biochemistry
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214B
Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.
Email: [email protected]
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)
________________________________
UT Southwestern Medical Center
The future of medicine, today.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
A new species of bat from New
Guinea:
<http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/10/photogalleries/101006-papua-new-guinea-species-tube-nosed-bat-science-animal-pictures/>.
Mark Minton
Please reply to [email protected]
Permanent email address is [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Yesterday, a tourist fell inside the pit entrance of Sótano de Ahuihuitzcapa
(180mt deep pit). As I know at this moment, he was not a caver. He was just
watching the pit entrance when the accident happens. This cave is in Zongolica
area in the state of Veracruz. Espeleo Rescate México team from Veracruz were
alerted today and they went to the cave and confirmed the death. Recovery
maneuvers will be held tomorrow morning. There will be more information as soon
we get it.
Sherppa
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
The recovery maneuvers started yesterday al 800hr and finished at 1600hr. The
man who fell was a local one, not a tourist, and it was just an unfortunate
accident. All the members from ERM Veracruz are in home now. The oficial report
will be in Espeleo Rescate Mexico web page soon.
P.D. Bill, I replied to your personal e-mail
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Or coexistence of radon and CO2 in caves of Ellenburger limestone could
indicate that the limestone is poorly permeable and simply doesn't allow for
good ventilation of gases produced below the surface. Radon is a product of
U-234 to thorium to radium to finally radon, with alpha particle decay (two
protons and two neutrons) and no release of chemical such as CO2 as byproduct.
Heating of limestone at high temperatures produces CO2 - but that would have to
be in excess of 800C (and even higher at higher pressures) - temperature that
is not attained until depth of 30+ km is reached. Therefore, this is not
likely to have an effect on local aquifers.
Rafal Kedzierski
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Nature Conservancy, Hays County, WVWA partner to protect Jacob’s Well
2010-12-22 / Outdoors
Cherokeean Herald
December 20, 2010—AUSTIN, TX—The Nature Conservancy of Texas, the Hays County
Commissioners Court and the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association (WVWA)
announced today the purchase of 50 acres near Wimberley that will permanently
protect Jacob’s Well, one of the Hill Country’s most iconic natural features.
Jacob’s Well is the largest perennial spring in the Texas Hill Country. Flowing
from the Trinity Aquifer, the spring is the second-longest underwater cave in
Texas and sustains the flow of groundwater into Cypress Creek, which in turn
feeds the Blanco River. The spring waters from Jacob’s Well feeds the famous
Blue Hole swimming area and regional park—known as “the heart of Wimberley”—and
recharges the Edwards Aquifer downstream.
Under terms negotiated by The Nature Conservancy, Hays County purchased the
property for $1.7 million using $850,000 of county revenue and $850,000 loaned
by the Conservancy, which will also hold a conservation easement on the
property.
Known as the Westridge Tract, the 50-acre parcel was once slated for
high-density development, including a hotel, spa and 65 homes and condominiums,
all of which could have adversely impacted Jacob's Well and the rich diversity
of plants and animals it supports.
The 50 acres are adjacent to the 46-acre Jacob’s Well Natural Area, which is
owned and managed by the WVWA and which contains the actual well. As part of
this transaction, the WVWA will convey 31 acres of its holdings—including the
land containing the well—to Hays County, creating an 80-acre preserve that will
be managed by the county.
According to Laura Huffman, state director for The Nature Conservancy of Texas,
the willing cooperation of so many conservation-minded organizations made a
complex deal relatively simple. “The commitment of Hays County and the WVWA to
protecting Jacob’s Well has been incredible,” she said. “Despite the many
different moving parts, everybody involved was able to pull together to make
this happen. The people of Wimberley, the surrounding Hill Country and all of
Texas have been done a great service today.”
“The purchase of Jacob’s Well protects an important part of our ecological and
cultural heritage,” said Hays County Precinct 3 Commissioner Will Conley, who
noted that the county’s stated goal for the property will be to raise awareness
of natural resource values and the importance of conserving freshwater habitats
without causing harm to the site.
David Baker, Executive Director of WVWA, said “We have always held the vision
of sharing Jacob’s Well with the community and using this unique place to
experience the connection between land stewardship and clean water. The
preservation of this land is a tremendous step forward in our communities’
efforts to protect the aquifer recharge area and watersheds that feed Jacob’s
Well and Cypress Creek.”
The new protected area will complement the Conservancy’s existing Blanco River
Project, launched seven years ago to protect one of the most vital links in the
network of rivers and aquifers in the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion that citizens
of San Antonio, Austin and much of the Hill Country rely on.
The property will continue to be used for low-impact educational and
recreational activities, all of which will be conducted in accordance with a
management plan to be agreed upon by Hays County and the WVWA. WVWA will
continue management of the natural area and further develop the aquifer
research and environmental education and outreach programs.
Jacob’s Well is the largest perennial spring in the Texas Hill Country. Flowing
from the Trinity Aquifer, the spring is the second-longest underwater cave in
Texas and sustains the flow of groundwater into Cypress Creek, which in turn
feeds the Blanco River. The spring waters from Jacob’s Well feeds the famous
Blue Hole swimming area and regional park—known as “the heart of Wimberley”—and
recharges the Edwards Aquifer downstream.
Under terms negotiated by The Nature Conservancy, Hays County purchased the
property for $1.7 million using $850,000 of county revenue and $850,000 loaned
by the Conservancy, which will also hold a conservation easement on the
property.
Known as the Westridge Tract, the 50-acre parcel was once slated for
high-density development, including a hotel, spa and 65 homes and condominiums,
all of which could have adversely impacted Jacob's Well and the rich diversity
of plants and animals it supports.
The 50 acres are adjacent to the 46-acre Jacob’s Well Natural Area, which is
owned and managed by the WVWA and which contains the actual well. As part of
this transaction, the WVWA will convey 31 acres of its holdings—including the
land containing the well—to Hays County, creating an 80-acre preserve that will
be managed by the county.
According to Laura Huffman, state director for The Nature Conservancy of Texas,
the willing cooperation of so many conservation-minded organizations made a
complex deal relatively simple. “The commitment of Hays County and the WVWA to
protecting Jacob’s Well has been incredible,” she said. “Despite the many
different moving parts, everybody involved was able to pull together to make
this happen. The people of Wimberley, the surrounding Hill Country and all of
Texas have been done a great service today.”
“The purchase of Jacob’s Well protects an important part of our ecological and
cultural heritage,” said Hays County Precinct 3 Commissioner Will Conley, who
noted that the county’s stated goal for the property will be to raise awareness
of natural resource values and the importance of conserving freshwater habitats
without causing harm to the site.
David Baker, Executive Director of WVWA, said “We have always held the vision
of sharing Jacob’s Well with the community and using this unique place to
experience the connection between land stewardship and clean water. The
preservation of this land is a tremendous step forward in our communities’
efforts to protect the aquifer recharge area and watersheds that feed Jacob’s
Well and Cypress Creek.”
The new protected area will complement the Conservancy’s existing Blanco River
Project, launched seven years ago to protect one of the most vital links in the
network of rivers and aquifers in the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion that citizens
of San Antonio, Austin and much of the Hill Country rely on.
The property will continue to be used for low-impact educational and
recreational activities, all of which will be conducted in accordance with a
management plan to be agreed upon by Hays County and the WVWA. WVWA will
continue management of the natural area and further develop the aquifer
research and environmental education and outreach programs.
http://www.thecherokeean.com/news/2010-12-22/Outdoors/Nature_Conservancy_Hays_County_WVWA_partner_to_pro.html
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--- Begin Message ---
>From this week's Nature magazine, a Nature News article that should be
>accessible to those without a Nature subscription:
http://www.nature.com/news/2010/101222/full/4681012a.html
Diana
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Associate Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biochemistry
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214B
Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.
Email: [email protected]
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)
________________________________
UT Southwestern Medical Center
The future of medicine, today.
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As Logan McNatt said the other day, I spoke to the TPWD Commissioners this past
Monday with some cave-related comments on the 18,000ac land deal.
TPWD met with strong resistance to the original land swap idea. To me that
deal seemed fair, but of course I would rather TPWD have been able to acquire
and protect BOTH large tracts. Since state money is tight that seemed unlikely
at the time. But apparently others with lots of pull and cash in the bank
thought they could make it happen and TPWD managed to get a total $11million in
private donations for outright purchase! Just incredible to me- so TPWD is now
able to buy the whole Sanders tract for $13M cash with enough left over to fund
operations for 2-3 years. AND they keep the existing 20,000ac Devils River
SNA. Some of the Commissioners worked hard to solicit extra donations. Even
some of the previously opposed neighboring-landowners offered up sizeable
capital for the deal.
Now there are always pros and cons to land deals. This purchase will still
have some good and some bad aspects to it. But heres what I thought was really
important and interesting about the Commissioners Meeting: EVERY SINGLE COMMENT
was now in favor of the new purchase plan, including comments from some
individuals and groups that previously opposed the swap. Our friends at the
Sierra Club support this deal. That was interesting news to me, but what
really impressed me was that EVERY SINGLE COMMENT (mine included) asked TPWD a
simple question: "How can we be of service?" "What can we do?" or "We want to
work together with you." And with state budget constraints TPWD would be wise
to accept offers of assistance from all groups. I imagine the Audubon Society
can help demonstrate birding conservation. Sierra Club can help demonstrate
land conservation. TCMA has been assured we can help demonstrate cave
conservation.
IMHO, I am impressed. TPWD listened to all concerns. TPWD fought hard to make
this happen. And TPWD may be embarking on an exciting and fascinating kind of
partnership with a wide variety of conservation groups and private landowners
to create what I imagine to be a unique kind of limited-access state park.
This park wont likely be overrun with toobers- it might even stand as a
testament to true Texas values of land stewardship.
Congratulations fellow Texans- in 3 years a new state park will open for our
enjoyment. In the meantime, we might even get to help document some caves on
it.
Best regards,
Arron Wertheim, VP, TCMA
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
This looks like it could be some interesting armchair caving. Does
anyone know anything about this flick? It comes out (I think on DVD)
in February. I have it in my Netflix cue.
http://m.imdb.com/title/tt0881320/
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